Aim to give an account of the history behind the relationship between the Europeans and Aboriginal inhabitants
Illustrate the need to recognise discrimination and take responsibility of the past, present and future
Encourage an open, harmonious and hopeful vision of reconciliation as opposed to focusing on assigning guilt
Traces Australian history and focuses on the relations between Europeans and Aboriginal inhabitants through reference to a series of scholars- who all acknowledged the injustices faced by the Aboriginals
Argued that if reconciliation is to be achieved there is a need to recognise the discrimination that did exist and still exists today and to take responsibility for this
Doesn’t advocate the ‘Black Armband’ view of Aus history- prefers to deal with facts at hand
Told his audience there is no need for them to feel guilt over what occurred, but they should acknowledge that the injustices did take place and bear some responsibility for this- calls for ‘an opening of our hearts’ as we strive to overcome the inequities of our past and build a future on the foundations of justice and equality
Pearson’s academic speech aims to debate and question the history of Australia, supports the role of reconciliation, and represents a step forward in the battle to improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The debate is not about the facts of the past, but how we should respond. “The debate is about how Australians should respond to the past”
Main aim is to analyse the issue of Aboriginal reconciliation and its progress in Australian Society
He strives to reconcile the relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and to acknowledge the past injustices that the Aboriginal population faced.
Audience – educated academics, people interested in history, formal occasion, delivered at Western Sydney Uni.
Law & history graduate & an Abo activist leader.
One of Aus’s most influential Abo in Aus’n politics
His speech was inspired by the High Court decisions & political statements of the time
Newly elected PM John Howard – proposed amendments to Native Title Act.
Days prior to his speech John Howard criticised historians who presented what he called the new ‘black armband view of Australian history’ which emphasised the European actions of ‘dispossession, exploitation and violence’. Pearson was against this view – that we should acknowledge it. Following this, there was a widespread debate over the issue of how Aust’ns should respond to their past
He took a more conservative approach to Abo politics, strongly criticising his own community for the high rates of substance abuse and reliance on welfare payouts
Advocate of increased responsibility for the Aboriginal community
Continuing work to find practical solutions to the problems faced by Abo’s - placed him at the centre of many political debates
Youth and conservative approach has gained him respect within Australian community
Asked to address an academic gathering at the Uni of Western Sydney
Chose to speak on Aus’n History - focusing on the relationships between the European settlers and the Aboriginal people
Speech considered the political context
Followed the Mabo decision- which overturned the doctrine of Terra Nullius (land belonging to no-one)
Native Title and Mabo- provided a momentous changed in Aus’n history and for the 1st time legislation and case law recognised Aboriginals as the original inhabitants of Aus
Racism
Focuses extensively on the racist history of Australia
Shed light on Aboriginal relations with European settlers who dispossessed the indigenous people on their land and culture
Outlined the doctrine of ‘terra nullius’- land belonging to no one and didn’t recognise Aboriginal inhabitants
Doesn’t dwell on the injustices- looks to the future and the means to
